The 2025 IU South Bend Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) is an opportunity for students to be recognized for the research they have conducted in their academic coursework or as part of faculty research teams. The event will be held Friday, April 18 from 8 am-3 pm, with student presenters set up throughout the Education and Arts Building.
“We want to showcase our fantastic student research that is being undertaken across campus,” explains Brett Labbe, communication studies associate professor and Undergraduate Research Committee co-chair. “People who are visiting the conference will have the opportunity to see the diverse range of research our students are doing.”
The conference is open to students in any academic program at IU South Bend or other primarily undergraduate institutions, and the work they present may be the product of a class or of independent research/creative activity. Students are also welcome to organize their own panels on specific topics.
This year’s program consists of a wide range of research from several disciplines including Theater, New Media, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Dental Hygiene, English, Communication Studies, Health Sciences, History, Nursing, Political Science, and Psychology.
The 2025 URC features presentations and poster topics ranging from human rights violations in Honduras, to healthier dental hygiene for a variety of demographics, to the effects of agricultural chemicals on soybean symbiotic bacterium bradyrhizobium japonicum.
Attendees are encouraged to walk throughout the halls of the Education and Arts Building, listen to poster presentations or panel discussions, and ask students about their research, methods, and findings. Guest speakers Dr. Jill Pearon, Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Arram Almanaseer, MPA CJ Track Student/Criminal Justice Alumni will present during lunch in the University Grill from 12-1 p.m.
For more information about this year’s conference, please contact Brett Labbe (blabbe@iu.edu) or A.J. Schmitz (ajschm@iu.edu), Co-Chairs, Undergraduate Research Committee.
